The following is a compilation of the various tales surrounding the poogle, On. They are widely ranged in length and focus.


The White Heron
The White Heron is a mysterious man. Some people think they've seen him, but most of that is just talk. The White Heron doesn't let too many people catch a glimpse of him; he can't have everyone in Neopia knowing where he is. He's like a ghost, some say, like the very mist on the sea. One moment he's there, the next you can't be sure if it was he or just a figment of your imagination and a white gull in the fog.

He flies through the air like a bird, and he talks to all manner of creatures. Some say he's even a personal friend of the Unicorn, and he has tea every third friday with the Dragon. Some even say he can swim like a fish, and breathe underwater like one too.

He flits around the world in the blink of an eye, never resting in any one place too long. Some say he's running from something, that he can't stay anywhere for very long, else whatever he's fleeing from will catch up. Now, I don't know anything about that, but what I do know is that this White Heron seems to like Krawk Island better than anywhere else.

When ol' mister White Heron needs a place to stay for a while, longer than he usually stays, he always comes to Krawk Island. Some say this is where he's born, and some say his mother died here. Either way, he rather likes our humble lil island.

So, when mister Heron floats on down to earth, he wanders about the island for a bit, just confusing folks and generally having some fun. Then, when he really feels like having a rest, they say he just disappears right into the earth. One second he's there, and the next he's gone--just like that.

Some people say he's got a cave down there, underground somewhere. But some people also say he's nothing but a magic creature, made of a bit of mud and wind, and when he's tired he just goes right back to being mud and the earth takes him back like a mother would take back her lost child. Easy as can be.

This tale is mostly fictional, and is particular to Krawk Island.



The Whistle Man
Every so often, on a rainy Thursday when business is slow, a tall young man with silver bells in his hair comes into the Jackie Julie Pub in southern Meridell. Very few people have seen him, since he only comes around when there's hardly anyone there.

Well, he comes right in and sits down at the bar, but he never drinks anything but soda water, and sometimes a little of Nettie's special brew. After a few minutes, he wanders on back to a corner and sits himself down at a table, pulls out s little wooden flute, and plays.

Now, this poogle can play. He plays most everything you'd care to hear, and its all astounding. When he plays a jig, you want to get right up and dance, and when he plays a slow, mournful tune there's not a dry eye in the place. The funny thing is, he mostly DOES play those sad songs. Sometimes its a dirge, sometimes a lament.

Those old ones who've seen him once or twice say he used to come to the pub more often, but he came with a lady then, a lovely woman who would sing the words to his beautiful songs. He only ever comes alone now, though, and his songs are only half-songs, so obviously, achingly missing the sweet voice of his lost companion.

This story comes closest to whole truths, and On tends to avoid talking about it. It seems he prefers his stories to err on the side of falseness rather than all too close to the mysterious, painful truth.



Tingle Jing
."When the moon is up,
And the snow's all around,
Tingle Jing will
Come to town."
Children's rhyme in Happy Valley

When the snow is the very deepest and all the north is holed up at home, out of the cold and ice and wind, Tingle Jing comes to the valley. He comes at the light of the moon, bringing warmth and happiness to those who deserve it. Only those who have lived well in the past year, who have helped and loved their fellow Neopians are visited by Tingle Jing.

His hair is the color of new-fallen snow in the moonlight, and his fur is pale as a tern's tail-feathers. His hair is long, and braided, and silver bells are woven into it and they sing out wherever he goes, "tingle jingle tingle." That's where he gets his name. Whenever the children of Happy Valley hear those bells ringing at night, they know that Tingle Jing has visited and their lives will be full of happiness for another long year.

Specific to Terror Mountain, more accurately Happy Valley, this tale is almost entirely fictitious. It is possible that it was inspired by a hybrid of Ondanks and some other figure frequenting Terror Mountain...



Tom O'Lantern
There are many strange and frightening things in the Haunted Woods, but among the oddest sights you will ever see is Tom O'Lantern, the ghost of the Fairground.

Tom O'Lantern haunts the Carousel, every night of the year. The Carousel used to be the finest gem in the fairground, and children loved to ride it. But now, the Carousel is old and broekn and covered in dust, and no children ride it anymore. The only person who keeps the Carousel company is Tom O'Lantern.

Now, Tom is a ghost, plain to be seen. His fur and hair are purest white, and the glow a little in the moonlight. And sometimes, if you're real quiet and careful, you can sneak up on ol' Tom and touch him, and your fingers will go right through him! He doesn't like being touched very well, though, so he usually takes off right quick.

Now, Tom isn't a violent ghost. He might get a little upset, but he wouldn't ever hurt anyone. He just wanders around the Fairground and rides the Carousel, and some people don't even realize he's dead. Some say he doesn't even realize he's dead.

No-one knows how Tom died, or why he haunts the Carousel, but the old creatures who've been around the Woods longer than anyone or their grandmother can remember, they whisper at night that there's a reason that old Carousel got shut down, many years ago...

This story comes from the Haunted Woods, and was originally told by the Master Storyteller of the gypsy troupe. It is also almost entirely fictitious.



Ondankura
Ondankura is well-known here in Shenkuu. In his youth, he spent much time here, and later, when he became a nomad, he returned to Shenkuu often. He met his lady here, his love, and for several years he made this his home again, and they were happy.

Then, one day, something unspeakable happened. We do not talk of it out of respect for Ondankura_ but he went back to wandering then. That is no story for now, however. This story is about Ondankura and the Kitsune.

It is widely known that Ondankura attended good Neopian schools, and he is very clever. He excels at puzzles and riddles, and he is a skilled storyteller, if you can convince him to spin a tale. They say that his wit and cleverness are second only to those of the Kitsune.

The Kitsune is a celestial lupess, a goddess in Shenkuu. Like the Sphinx of the Lost Desert, she delights in riddles and tricks, and many stories are told of her adventures. She boasts of being the cleverest creature in all Shenkuu, and she is very jealous of this title.

So it was that Ondankura was sitting by a koi pond one day when the Kitsune slunk down from the trees. Ondankura was unperturbed, but the Kitsune seemed to be a bit miffed.

."Everywhere I go, I am greeted by tales of the great, clever Ondankura_ I was once exalted, praised as the trickiest of all, and now I hear nothing but outlandish tales of, of...YOU!"

Ondankura was surprised, and he knelt before the Kitsune. "Forgive me, Kitsune, for I never intended to challenge you. If it pleases you, I will use my stories only to sing your praises from now on. Surely that will resotre your reputation."

But the Kitsune was not pacified. She stalked back and forth, her many tails lashing. "No, no, that's not good enough. I must defeat you and take back my honor!" She stopped and glared at Ondankura_ "I challenge you to a battle of wits!"

So it was. Ondankura and the Kitsune spent hours, days even, telling riddles and guessing the answers. At first they were quick, firing riddles back and forth like gunshot. Then they slowed, the riddles becoming more difficult and the answers more complex. One riddle took Ondankura a whole night to solve.

Finally, after seven days, they were on the very last riddle when Ondankura had to admit defeat. The Kitsune was now undisputedly the cleverest creature in all of Shenkuu.

."Thank you, Ondankura_ " she said, smiling. "You didn't just let me win. You fought well, and I am impressed." The Kitsune then gave Ondankura a gift, the tiny silver bells he wears always in his hair. They ring sweetly with the velvet-smooth tones of Ondankura_ 's own silver tongue. In Shenkuu, they are known as a badge of his apprenticeship to the Kitsune, and we love to hear the cheerful chiming of Ondankura_ 's silver bells.

This story is truth, as Shenkuu is the only place On spent enough time to be truly known by the people there. His Shenkuu accounts are mostly eyewitness tales, and are told fondly.

On's other story will go here. ^^

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